The Pakistan team has been stacked with spinners for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but Usman Tariq has hogged the spotlight for his unorthodox action featuring a long pause in delivery stride. While Ishan Kishan said that there is no special preparation for an opposition after the Namibia win, former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has an advice for Indian batters on how to unsettle Tariq. He reiterated that Tariq’s action is legal despite the long pause he takes which helps him nullify batters’ trigger moment and bowl a more accurate line and length.
"If I have a normal bowling action but suddenly pause and deliver the final ball in the over, that was ruled illegal a few years ago because that is against the natural rhythm of my bowling action. The umpire can warn me. For Tariq, the case is different. That pause is part of his normal action," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
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"There is one thing I want to see — who dares to do that? If Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, 'I don't know when the ball is coming, so I moved away,'" he added.
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Ashwin on how Tariq vs India batters can frustrate umpires
However, Ashwin doubts that the Indian batters will resort to the tactic of pulling away. The legendary spinner believes that if the batters do attempt it then it will be a huge headache for the umpires as they will be well within their rights to move away. He wonders who will be warned by the umpire first, the batter or the Tariq.
"That will be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire. See, I'm not against anyone. If I was there, I would have done that. I would have done everything that is within the laws of the game. In this instance, the umpire will have to decide whether to warn the bowler or the batter. Odds are — and that is how cricket has worked — the bowler will be warned first,” the 39-year-old said.
“Imagine, this is such a big game. And Tariq has been the cynosure. He has to bowl 24 deliveries like that. If the batter starts withdrawing, imagine the pressure on Tariq. He might have to alter his action in the middle of the game. Pakistan's trump card might turn out to be nothing. But again, the umpire could also tell the batter that this is his established action, so you cannot move away. This would be an unprecedented situation for an umpire. But I doubt any of the Indian batters have it in them to pull it off. I'm not sure."
Tariq in red-hot form
Tariq made an impressive T20 World Cup debut against the USA. He tall mystery spinner claimed three wickets. He kept the scoring rate in check, not letting USA accelerate and get close the target. He has been used judiciously by Pakistan team management, playing just four T20Is in several months.
On the other hand, he is not the only spinner in the Pakistan lineup. Their options are Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub. It will be interesting to see which team combination Pakistan opt for at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo to counter the menacing Indian batting lineup full of big-hitters.